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Emeritus Professor of Education George C. Timmons, born August 16, 1920, died at his Portland home on March 4, 2013.

In 1962, when a young Portland State was beginning to mount graduate studies, Professor Timmons took a position as coordinator for graduate-level instructional and advising programs to be offered through the institution's Portland Center for Continuing Education, which was located at PSU and served both on-campus and Oregon State System of Higher Education statewide activities. In 1964, Professor Timmons became the Center's associate director, and in 1967, as an associate professor, he joined the PSU School of Education to head its Department of Educational Administration. Subsequently he advanced to professorial rank and served as assistant dean. In every respect, Dr. Timmons contributed significantly to the Graduate School of Education's development supporting the University's instructional mission.

In response to frequent requests, Professor Timmons actively served as a program consultant, evaluator and advisor to school districts and to the state Superintendent of Instruction. His expertise on educational programming and planning generated statewide recognition. A longtime colleague in the Graduate School of Education observed that Professor Timmons "personified a well lived life of service." All of us who knew and worked with him heartily concur. The University as a whole owes Professor Timmons a great deal of recognition for his enormous contributions to our academic mission.

In 1980 Professor Timmons organized a "big band" that performed the kind of music that he and others of the "Greatest Generation" had enjoyed and appreciated. This group, "Dr. T. and His Orchestra" performed in this region until 2010. One of the band's finest performances was held at an event for the RAPS organization.

In his early years, Professor Timmons graduated from Portland's Benson High School and attend the University of Portland. In 1937 he joined the Oregon National Guard, which in 1940—more than a year prior to entry into World War II—the United States Army federalized along with other Northwestern states units to form the elite 41st - Infantry Division. Professor Timmons served as an elite bandsman with a combat unit in the South Pacific theatre from early 1942 until the war's end in August 1945. At his funeral on March 9, 2013, a United States Army unit accorded him full military honors.

After discharge from service, Professor Timmons resumed his university education, enrolling in Oregon State University where he earned a BS degree (1948) in mathematics combined with secondary education studies emphasizing school law and instructional program development. From 1949 to 1964 he pursued graduate studies while concurrently holding various, wide-ranging public school positions, including elementary and secondary classroom teaching, principal and superintendent assignments, and coordination of various university-level instructional and research functions. He completed an M.Ed. Degree at OSU (1952) and a D.Ed. Degree at the University of Oregon (1964).

Professor Timmons married Margaret Louise Bettis in 1948, and their marriage produced four children: Jill, Robin, Dale, and Mamie; and, 12 grandchildren and four great grandchildren, all of whom survive him, as does his brother Archie. Two sisters Adelaide and Elizabeth preceded him in death. To all of his survivors, our organization extends it heartfelt condolences for their irreplaceable loss.